Moving to Knoxville from California (Memphis, Maryville: to rent, low crime, house)

[msmelisap]

Hi everyone, my family will be moving next month to Knoxville from California. We have 3 kids 14, 11 and 9 years of age. So I am in need of a town that has all three levels of good quality schools. My father in law lives in Tazwell Pike and my husband will be working in Marysville. Trying to find a balance between the family and work commute. I am a city girl, but would like to give a more county lifestyle a chance. I have only been to Tennessee once and finding a school and a house to rent online without knowing the area is driving me crazy. I am attracted to Farragut, Marysville and Bearden schools. I don't think I can afford the rent in Farragut. I would love some advice. Please help!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by msmelisap

Hi everyone, my family will be moving next month to Knoxville from California. We have 3 kids 14, 11 and 9 years of age. So I am in need of a town that has all three levels of good quality schools. My father in law lives in Tazwell Pike and my husband will be working in Marysville. Trying to find a balance between the family and work commute. I am a city girl, but would like to give a more county lifestyle a chance. I have only been to Tennessee once and finding a school and a house to rent online without knowing the area is driving me crazy. I am attracted to Farragut, Marysville and Bearden schools. I don't think I can afford the rent in Farragut. I would love some advice. Please help!

Maryville (note the spelling) has excellent schools. I'd stick with Maryville.

[Barking Spider]

Good luck with your move. I moved form So CA in 94.

I don't think there is a huge difference between the schools, so I would go with the location you like and what is closest to your work.

[JVals]

Hello! I am from CA too! I think the Northshore area of W. Knoxville is a great area to live for someone who needs to commute to Maryville. I wrote you a message if you'd like to hear more.

[pgv98]

I just moved to Knoxville (I lived in San Diego a few years ago). It will take a major adjustment and I miss the surfing, beaches, nightlife, outdoor activities etc. of California, but Knoxville does has low crime (outside a few select areas of the city) no state income taxes (so that is around an 8 to 10% savings) and cheap housing. It is pretty poor, but the people are the nicest people you will ever meet. If I had kids I would move to Maryville. I needed some resemblance of city life so I moved downtown, which is way too small, but has its good points (market square is fun).

To me, Knoxville reminds me of a somewhere in Pennsylvania (like Scranton) but more southern. Lots of manufacturing, mountains and a river. That is generalizing a bit, but to me it really does not feel like the South, it is not like moving to Mississippi or Louisiana (unless you go to Memphis).

Also there is a big Mexican population, so if you are used to speaking Spanish or eating good Mexican food there are plenty of places around Knoxville to get that. There is also pretty good Indian food too.

[hiknapster]

Hmmm...haven't seen the big Mexican population. That seems a bit odd. Of course, I'm from swFlorida...but I would think someone from CA would think there were very, very few Mexicans here. City-Data has the Hispanic (not just Mexican) count at 2.9 percent. VERY low. I haven't heard Spanish in 6 years, since I left Florida. I understand that you are downtown and most of Knoxville is suburban but I haven't seen a high population down there, either.

[airen123]

I was wondering the same thing...I didn't think Knoxville had a big Mexican population. Nashville and Atlanta do, though.

[nashvols]

I think you're starting to see more and more Hispanics/Mexicans in Knoxville. Just like Nashville, you will start noticing a few in the minimum wage jobs and labor/landscaping/construction areas. Then all of a sudden, you might feel like they are dominating those areas.

The thing I've noticed in Nashville is that they seem to be displacing a lot of the high school kids that worked in fast food places, even out in the suburbs.

2.9% seems low, but I imagine that's probably half of the actual percentage. Still not "a lot" but Hispanics are generally undercounted in most of the South. Hispanics will move to where there are jobs. It's only a matter of time till the Hispanic community begins to boom in Knoxville like it has in Nashville, Memphis, and Atlanta.

Also note that Hispanics aren't afraid to move into small towns. Hispanics are becoming the largest minority in a few towns across the state.

[weisgarber1]

Originally Posted by nashvols

I think you're starting to see more and more Hispanics/Mexicans in Knoxville. Just like Nashville, you will start noticing a few in the minimum wage jobs and labor/landscaping/construction areas. Then all of a sudden, you might feel like they are dominating those areas.

The thing I've noticed in Nashville is that they seem to be displacing a lot of the high school kids that worked in fast food places, even out in the suburbs.

2.9% seems low, but I imagine that's probably half of the actual percentage. Still not "a lot" but Hispanics are generally undercounted in most of the South. Hispanics will move to where there are jobs. It's only a matter of time till the Hispanic community begins to boom in Knoxville like it has in Nashville, Memphis, and Atlanta.

Also note that Hispanics aren't afraid to move into small towns. Hispanics are becoming the largest minority in a few towns across the state.

The Hispanic population in Knox county is now about 10,000, according to a story after the preliminary census figures were released. According to the story, that is double the population of the last census. Big increase, but not unexpected.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by weisgarber1

The Hispanic population in Knox county is now about 10,000, according to a story after the preliminary census figures were released. According to the story, that is double the population of the last census. Big increase, but not unexpected.

10,000 is all? I would've guessed a bit more.